Fireplace heater unit



April 24, 1956 w. HERZER FIREPLACE HEATER UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1953 ATTORNEY April 24, 1956 Filed Aug. 4. 1953 W. HERZER FIREPLACE HEATER UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY April 24, 1956 w. HERZER FIREPLACE HEATER UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 4, 1953 @44 i'ORNEY 2,742,892 Patented Apr; 24, 1956 FIREPLACE HEATER UNIT Application August 4, 1953, Serial No. 372,346 9 Claims. (Cl. 1264) The present invention relates to heating apparatus and more particularly to a novel fireplace unit for burning solid fuels.

An object of the invention is to provide a complete unitary grate assembly for installation in a home or other fireplace as a heater or auxiliary heater for aroom.

Another object is to provide a heating unit arranged for ready removal from a fireplace for use as an outdoor grate for barbecue or other cooking.

Another object is to provide a heating unit wherein combustion and heated wall surfaces are subject to regulated control with particular reference to maintaining the access door relatively cool.

Another object is to provide a movable grate assembly for transfer to a point of use wherein a novel door includes automatic control of air for combustion purposes and airfor absorption from a heated combustion chamber wall. s t

. A further object isto provide novel cooking accessories for a grate assembly burning solid fuels.

'In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a perspective of a fireplace heater unit embodying one form of'the invention; Fig. 2 represents a plan of the same showing a fragmentary portion of a grille used with the unit; Fig. 3 represents a section on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 represents a perspective of the inner side of the door; Fig. 6 represents a perspective of the inner side of the door with the closure plate removed; and Fig. 7 represents a perspective of one of the like associated shelves.

Referring to the drawings, one form of the present invention comprises an open top, three-sided metal housing 10 in operative association with a metal front plate 11 having housing-supporting feet 12 for one end of the housing bottom 13, which latter is supported by journalled wheels 14, the radii of which match the height dimension of the feet 12 so that the housing is normally level. A grate 15 divides the housing into an upper combustion chamber'16 and a lower ash pit 17, such grate 15 being preferably of the shaker type and suspended in place from an internal channel 18 at one side and by a hanger ledge 20 at the opposite side formed as a part of the front plate 11. This plate 11 is formed at its lower portion with an opening 21 to provide access to the ash pit 17, and an upper outwardly disposed shelf-like flange 22 having side wings 23. This flange 22 and the wings 23 form a sight opening to the burning fuel on the grate 15 and protected by a metal grille 24 removably mounted upon the housing as a guard and retainer for fuel. Preferably the grille 24 is formed by two sets of rods 25 angularly diverging from a common center bar 26 and from the bottom frame bar 27. This upward angular disposition of the grille rods 25 assists discharging the heated air opwardly and outwardly.

Preferably the combustion chamber 16 is lined by fire brick 28 on three sides and by fire brick 30 as a lining for that portion of the plate 11 between the shelf flange 22 and the hanger ledge 20, such portion extending vertically to form a front retaining wall 9 for fuel. An annular horizontally disposed frame 31 seats upon the channel 18 and the ledge 20 as a support for the fire brick linings.

For controlling access to the ash pit and regulating the circulation of air, a door of novel construction is provided as a closure for the ash pit opening 21, the same being hinged end to the plate 11 by separable pin type hinges for easy removal of the door if found necessary. in the present instance the door is of tubular construction comprising an open sided closure 33 and an attached front cover 34. The closure 33 is for the ash pit opening 21 and is formed as an integral part having closed ends 35, a bottom 36 and a top 37 having a length-wise disposed slot 33 opening at its medial portion into a chamber as and at its two end portions respectivelyinto air defleeting baflies 41 arranged to discharge towards the outer face of the wall 9. The chamber 46 is formed by side and front extensions of the closure 33 as an open side housing for a thermostat 42, such open side being juxtaposed to the wall 9 for sensitive response to heat radiated from such wall. The baflies dl are also formed as upward extensions of the closure 33 and are of arcuate conformation to discharge air along the surface of the wall 9.

The front cover 34 of the door serves as a mounting for a blower fan did with its attached motor housing 44 from which the motor shaft 45 protrudes inwardly to mount the fan 43, which latter provides forced draft through the door and into the ash pit by way of a port or ports through the closure 33 and communicating with the ash pit. For both natural and forced draft operation the front cover 34 is formed with radial air inlet slots 47 circumferentially about the motor housing 44, such slots 47 being defined by heat-radiating fins 48. A vertically suspended bafile 59 is mounted in the path of entering air to direct the air downward and around its bottom edge into close proximity to the ports 46.

For regulating the incoming air according to fuel bed conditions, a flap damper 51 is pivoted on a horizontal pivot 52 as a control for the ash pit ports 46,'such damper being connected by a chain 53 to the movable part of the thermostat 42, which is preferably of the convolute type arranged to be set for heat response by means including a rock pin 54 to be operated by an external hand knob 15. Thus, with the free end of the thermostat connected to the chain 53, the damper 5'1 can'be opened, closed, or partly open, according to conditions and the temperaturesetting. The knob 55 can be set for high, low, or intermediate selected temperature response and the danger will be controlled accordingly. For example, when the front wall 59 is cool, indicating the fire is low, the thermostat wil be holding the damper 51 open to supply maximum air through the ports into the ash pit to stimulate combustion of the fuel. Con-' versely, when the temperature of the plate wall 9 rises to the selected high as set by the thermostat 42, then the latter, through the chain 53, will close or partly close the damper 51 and by-pass all or a proportioned part of the incoming air upwardly within the door to discharge by way of the deflector baffles 41 against the wall 9 and thereby absorb the radiated heat and transmit it by convection outwardly into the room along the under side of the shelf flange 22.

When the heating unit of the invention is to be used for cooking purposes, such as barbecuing, broiling, and the like, removable shelves 56 are provided, each having a pair of downwardly disposed lugs 57 for respectively entering complemental sockets 58 fixed in the proper locations on the respective sides of the housing to receive the lugs and support the shelves as horizontal side extensions of the unit. Also, a pair of standards 60 are provided for attachment to the unit housing at opposite sides respectively as supports for a long, pointed rod or spit 61, one of said standards 60 having a vertically disposed row of spit-receiving holes the other standard having vertically spaced slots 63 for selectively seating the opposite end portion of the spit. Horizontally considered, the holes 62 and slots 63 are respectively in alinement for level positioning of the spit whichever pair of holes and slots is selected. The standards 60 are removably supported by sockets 64 fixed to the housing sides in proper alined relation. The spit 61 preferably has a round shank with an adjacent square portion for selectively seating the spit 61 in a slot 63 according to whether the spit is to be turned or fixed for the cooking operation. Preferably, also a grille 65 is provided to seat over the top of the heater in close proximity to the bed of coal.

In order that the unit can be readily lifted or moved from one location to another, each side of the unit is provided with a tubular handle 66 arranged with its axis horizontal to receive and seat a lift rod 67 of a length to project outwardly beyond the front of the heater for easy lift leverage. Thus, with the two rods 67 inserted in the handles 66, the user can lift the front of the, heater to permit the unit to be rolled along upon its rear wheels, as will be understood.

It will now be apparent that a complete unitary fireplace heater unit has been devised for use in a fireplace or outdoors Where it can be easily rolled for cooking purposes, such as broiling or barbecuing. The combustion chamber is dimensional to be filled with fuel which is held in front by the open work grille, this latter serving also to discharge heated air laterally away from the heater. Thus, for cooking purposes, the fuel burning level is in close proximity to any food upon the grille or the spit. The fan switch and thermostatic control provide an efficieut control for slow and quick fires as necessary.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A fireplace unit heater comprising an open top housing, a grate horizontally dividing said housing into a combustion chamber and an ash pit, a front plate for said housing having an upper heat discharge passage from said combustion chamber and a lower opening into said ash pit, a door forming a closure for said opening, said door having an air-receiving chamber, a port from said chamber to said ash pit, and an outlet from said chamber to dis charge air against said front plate, means to introduce air into said door chamber, a damper for controlling said port, and means including a thermostat responsive to heat radiated from said front plate for closing said damper upon a temperature rise and for opening said damper upon a temperature fall to proportion the flow of air to said port and to said outlet according to fuel burning conditions.

2. A fireplace unit heater in accordance with claim 1 wherein a motor operated fan is mounted to discharge into said door chamber.

3. A fireplace unit heater in accordance with claim 1 wherein a casing is carried by the door, having an open side juxtaposed to said front plate, for housing said thermostat.

4. A fireplace unit heater in accordance with claim 1 wherein a baffle is suspended in said chamber in the path of entering air to cause the air to travel down and under the baffle to said port and upwardly to said outlet.

5. A fireplace unit heater comprising an open top closed bottom housing, a grate in said housing forming a combustion chamber and an ash pit below said chamber, a front wall for said housing having an opening into said ash pit and an outwardly disposed flange above said opening forming a heat discharge passage from the upper portion of said combustion chamber, a grille mounted across said heat discharge passage, a tubular door closing said ash pit opening, said door having an air inlet port communicating with said ash pit and an air outlet to discharge below said flange and against the front wall, means to admit air into said door, and means including a thermostat responsive to heat radiated from said front plate for controlling air delivered to said port and said outlet, said means reducing the air supply upon a temperature rise and increasing the air supply upon a temperature fall.

6. A fireplace unit heater in accordance with claim 5, wherein said flange is upwardly inclined to direct heat radiated from said front wall outwardly away from the unit.

7. A fireplace unit heater in accordance with claim 5 wherein said grille comprises two sets of parallel rods arranged in upwardly diverging relation to provide a plurality of heat conveying paths.

8. A portable heater for use in a fireplace or as an outdoor cooker, comprising a housing, a grate horizontally dividing said housing into a combustion chamber and an ash pit, said housing being open at the top and closed on three sides and bottom, a plate for the front of said housing having an upper passage communicating with said combustion chamber and an opening below communicating with the ash pit, a laterally outwardly projecting flange on said plate including side wings bounding said passage, 21 grille disposed across said passage, a door for the ash pit forming a chamber having a port into the ash pit and an outlet to discharge against said front plate below said flange, means to introduce air into said door chamber, a damper for controlling said port, and means including a thermostat responsive to heat radiated from said front plate for closing said damper upon a temperature rise and for opening said damper upon a temperature fall to proportion the flow of air to said port and to said outlet according to fuel burning conditions.

9. A portable heater according to claim 8, wherein said combustion chamber is lined with fire brick.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 978,227 Sholar Dec. 13, 1910 1,729,151 Brunner Sept. 24, 1929 1,879,342 Lauter Sept. 27, 1932 1,956,608 Bailey May 1, 1934 1,969,113 Baker Aug. 7, 1934 2,014,507 Price Sept. 17, 1935 2,031,652 Hopping Feb. 25, 1936 2,482,068 Larson Sept. 13, 1949 

